Carla Hinsey

Our society has become a people desiring bigger, better, faster and easier.  We want everything to be automatic and effortless.  We would rather push a button, pull a lever, or flip a switch so that we don’t have to do anything physically more than we have to.  Now that we have managed to make our lives so easy and running on automatic pilot we can take it easy because we are being taken care of.

I’d like to share a little fable with you.  I’m sure most of you have heard it, and some of you may not have, so if you have I’m just reminding you and if you haven’t, then pay attention.

This story is based on the study of species behavior.  An experiment was to take place using two frogs of the same species.  One frog was placed in a pan filled with cool water and the pan placed upon a stove and allowed to slowly heat  to a full boil.  As the water  heated it was noted that the frog showed no signs of discomfort or alarm.

The frog sat motionless in the center of the pan, showing no signs of panic, the water now reaching slow boil.  Amazed, the researchers watched as the frog started to boil and of course died, never struggling to get out of the pan of boiling water.

For the second frog the researchers decided to try a different angle.  This time they would heat a pan of water to a boil and then put the frog in to see how he would react.  The researchers put the frog into the boiling pan of water and watched as the frog quickly jumped and scrambled out of the pan of water, suffering only minor injuries.

What is the moral to this story?

1. Gradual change in ones surroundings goes unnoticed,  as we become complacent and at times not fully aware of the potential trouble lurking just around the corner or in the pot.

2. Sudden change in ones surroundings is not acceptable and does not go unnoticed.  Immediate action is required to avoid an approaching perilous condition.

Maybe it would be best if we took more control of our lives and stop letting others think for us.  I would rather not have something done for me than to lose any more of the rights, which are slowly being taken away from me every day.  I for one notice, and I don’t like it one bit!